Authorities in Cyprus have revoked the citizenship of Ukrainian oligarch Igor Kolomoisky, a former ally of Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The decision came after authorities in Cyprus considered that Kolomoisky had acquired it through fraud.
According to local media reports, Kolomoisky, who was arrested last year in Ukraine, is also subject to trial for alleged fraud, money laundering as well as irregular acquisition of property related to his oil and gas holdings.
According to a Philenews report, Cyprus’s decision to strip Kolomoisky of his Cypriot citizenship came after the EU earlier this month said that Kolomoisky’s suspicious character risked worsening the reputation of Cyprus.
A report from Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security revealed that its pre-investigation into Kolomoisky was finished on August 21.
According to prosecutors, some of the money Kolomoisky allegedly obtained through illicit means and transferred to his account, about $48 million, was obtained at the expense of loans from PrivatBank, which is a Ukrainian bank formerly owned by Kolomoisky.
Kolomoisky, along with five associates, was subject to charges by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) for embezzling $223 million from PrivatBank, according to a report from the NABU announced earlier this month.
Cyprus Continues to Revoke a Large Number of Citizenships Acquired Through Golden Passport Program
Cyprus’ Golden Passport Program, which permitted a large number of internationals to acquire citizenship in this country provided they made a financial investment and met some needed conditions, was terminated in 2020 by authorities in this country.
The decision came after a report by Al Jazeera that revealed the program’s involvement in several irregular affairs, such as money laundering and corruption, among others.
Earlier this month, authorities in Cyprus announced that they withdrew eight more passports that internationals acquired through the Golden Passport program.
Recently it was reported that Cyprus’s former Transport Minister, Marios Demetriades, was also charged with offences related to corruption, bribery and money laundering, among others.
However, Minister Demetriades said he was being made a scapegoat.
For three full years, my personal, family and professional life has been thoroughly checked, as have all my political decisions [and] no fault was found. I have absolute trust in justice, knowing that in the end truth and justice always prevail.
Besides, it was reported that police, under the supervision of the Law Office, are investigating naturalisation cases acquired through the Golden Passport Program.
